IMAGES of destruction from the south of France have surfaced as flood waters subside there on Tuesday. Overnight flash floods due to torrential showers had overturned cars, severely damaged roads and covered buildings with mud.

Last week, France declared a state of natural disaster in about 60 southern towns hit by record-breaking downpours, which also left the Mediterranean city of Montpellier under water.Flood waters streamed down roads and highways, engulfing cars as the Lez river burst its banks in the seaside capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region.More than 4,000 people across the rain-soaked region spent the night in emergency centres, schools, stuck in train stations or the airport, local government said in a statement.

France on Tuesday declared a state of natural disaster in about 60 southern towns hit by torrential downpours, which also left the Mediterranean city of Montpellier under water.

Flood waters streamed down roads and highways, engulfing cars as the Lez river burst its banks in the seaside capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region.

More than 4,000 people across the rain-soaked region spent the night in emergency centres, schools, stuck in train stations or the airport, local government said in a statement.

According to the municipality, emergency workers were called out more than 1,200 times, backed by three helicopters.

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